Jayapura – President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) officially opened the Papua Street Carnival which was held by the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy (Kemenparekraf), in collaboration with the Papua Youth Creative Hub (PYCH) which is fostered by the State Intelligence Agency (BIN), Friday (7/ 7) morning in the courtyard of the Papua Governor’s Office, Jayapura.
The inauguration of the Papua Street Carnival with the theme “The East Great Spirit”, was marked by a symbolic pressing of a button by President Jokowi together with the Head of the State Intelligence Agency (BIN), Budi Gunawan, Menparekraf, Sandiaga Uno, and Plh. Governor of Papua, M. Ridwan Ruusukun.
“By asking for blessings and grace from God Almighty, this morning, I officially declare the Papua Street Carnival opened and started,” said President Jokowi.
Also present at the event were Minister of Home Affairs, Tito Karnavian, Minister of State Secretary, Pratikno, TNI Commander Admiral TNI Yudo Margono, National Police Chief Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo, Minister of Investment, Bahlil Lahadalia, and other officials.
In his remarks, President Jokowi admitted that he had seen the development of PYCH fostered by BIN since it was inaugurated by him in March 2023, and was confident that young Papuans would achieve big leaps in the development of creative industries in this area.
The President hopes that tourism and the creative economy in Papua will continue to develop, have a positive impact on the people of Papua, and raise the image of Papua as a leading tourism destination with abundant creative potential.
President Jokowi also highlighted PYCH’s progress in the field of fashion design which is very good and packaged with attractive brands. President Jokowi also mentioned mobile phones and laptops produced by young Papuans, an extraordinary breakthrough in the creative industry in eastern Indonesia.
“I’m sure young Papuans will do a big jump,” said Jokowi.
Meanwhile, Menparekraf Sandiaga Uno highly appreciated the works of the PYCH youth who were fostered by BIN. According to him, the Papua Street Carnival is the first creative economy performance in the land of Papua. This is certainly a positive historical record for tourism development and Papua’s creative economy.
“Papua Street Carnival is a place for creative economy actors, a reflection of young people to advance Papua. And his creations are extraordinary, massive, lively, and God willing, they will go global,” he said.
Prior to the inauguration, President Jokowi accompanied by Budi Gunawan, Tito, Sandiaga, Pratikno and other officials visited the exhibition stand of BIN-assisted PYCH youth. Such as the Waibu Agro Edu Tourism stand, laptop and cellphone brands from TOP.ID, Handicrafts, screen printing, authentic FNB, Papua Coffee, PYCH Store, crafts to stands for other creative economy actors.
Papua Street Carnival 2023 is an event that presents the splendor of Papuan culture and its rich natural resources. With the success of the Papua Street Carnival, it is hoped that tourism and the creative economy in Papua will develop further and raise Papua’s image as a leading tourism destination at the international level.
This event also involved thousands of creative economy actors, thousands of performers, hundreds of fashion parades, hundreds of creative MSME exhibitions which were attended by more than 3,000 creative MSME actors who exhibited local creative products that reflected the expertise and creativity of the Papuan people.
While the fashion designers at the carnival were Ezterlin Baransano, Jenita Hilapok, Jeane M. Mariene, Eunike Yunita Raubaba (Unie), Alfa Mesak Suebu, Yan Pepuho, Yanpiet Pattynama (Pato), Hermin Rachel Makanuay, Lusy Sampary Umbora, Alfianty Mandosir, Irfais Marasabessy & Isak Osbabur (Painted Clothes). They are all young PYCH under the guidance of BIN.